Fireside Chat, Interview, Conference Presentation, Statement
Ray Kelly, Former NYPD Commissioner: Talks at GS Session Highlights
- Raymond Kelly served as NYPD Commissioner during two distinct administrations: 1992–1994 under Mayor Dinkins and 2002–2013 under Mayor Bloomberg.
- Kelly is the first individual to rise from a police cadet entry-level position to Commissioner of the NYPD.
- During his tenure, he established the first counterterrorism bureau in any US municipal police department.
- He launched a global intelligence program that stationed NYC detectives in overseas jurisdictions.
- Kelly's background includes active duty military service and a combat tour in Vietnam.
- To lead counterterrorism efforts, Kelly appointed a Marine General, noting a lack of anticipated pushback from the police fraternity regarding external leadership.
- Kelly stated that 16 terrorist plots were identified against New York City during his tenure, a success attributed to FBI work, NYPD effort, and luck.
- The May 1, 2010 Times Square bombing attempt involved a suspect who purchased inferior-grade fertilizer and less potent M-80 firecrackers, resulting in a "fizzled" explosion.
- Due to a leak identifying a suspect by race, a suspect with an M9 rifle attempted to flee to the UAE via Kennedy Airport; he was apprehended when authorities forced a plane return.
- Kelly noted the no-fly list is updated only once weekly, theoretically giving suspects a six-day window to evade detection.
- Regarding Ferguson and Occupy Wall Street, Kelly emphasized that the NYPD employs approximately 70 lawyers to ensure constitutional compliance during operations.
- Kelly identified the 2011 ruling finding the NYPD guilty of "indirect racial profiling" as based on "flimsiest of evidence."
- Kelly criticized the court's use of census data for profiling criteria, arguing it would logically require 90% of stops to be male since 90% of violent crimes are committed by men.
- Kelly submitted a counter-proposal using the Rand Corporation's 2006 recommendation to align stops with descriptions of crime perpetrators provided by victims.
- Statistically, 53% of people stopped were African-American, whereas victim descriptions of perpetrators were 75% Black or African-American.
- Kelly asserted that 97% of shooting victims and 90% of murder victims in New York City are Black or Hispanic.
- The Bloomberg administration recorded 9,300 fewer murders over 12 years compared to the prior 12-year period.
- Kelly expressed concern that the current administration's decision not to appeal the racial profiling ruling is a "disservice" that undermines legal standing.
- Kelly warned that new oversight measures, including body cameras and individual liability laws, may cause officers to shift from proactive to reactive policing.
- Kelly defined proactive policing as involving anti-crime work and decoys, acknowledging that mistakes are inevitable given that officers are human beings.
- Kelly identified ISIS as a significant current threat, citing their access to oil money, military-grade weapons, and long-range artillery.
- The Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (LMSI), launched in 2005, utilized smart algorithms and cameras to monitor the 1.7 square miles south of Canal Street.
- Under LMSI, detection data is automatically erased after 30 days to balance security and privacy.
- Kelly predicts the terrorism threat landscape will require long-term engagement, with plans to increase police presence as the World Trade Center site is rebuilt.